Startup Story
Olubunmi Otufowora is the founder of Boomsky Smoothies, a leading indigenous fruit processing and distribution company in Nigeria that produces 100% natural smoothies and juices. Operating for over a decade, Boomsky Smoothies was founded in 2010 and has bridged the gap between nutrition and busy executives who want a healthy drink on the go. With more than 14 years of experience in various senior leadership roles in one of Nigeria's top telecommunications firms, her strong professional insight has been instrumental in her success. Her passion for promoting healthy living through natural fruit drinks is evident in her company's exceptional growth and impact. Olubunmi is committed to positively impacting Nigeria's society by reducing post-harvest food loss. Her business is aligned with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals 1, 2, 3, and 12, and her efforts are reflected in the sustainable growth of Boomsky Smoothies over the years. Today the business employs 28 people.
LoA spoke to the pioneering Olubunmi Otufowora about her entrepreneurial journey and her future ambitions for the business.
What does your company do?
Boomsky Smoothies is a fruit processing company that produces, distributes, and sells 100% natural smoothies and juices. We provide on-the-go nutrition to the doorsteps of our customers, ensuring they are well nourished with the daily nutrients their bodies need while reducing the post-harvest loss of fruits.
“We are one of the pioneers in the natural drinks industry, as few or no such products were available in the market when we began.”
What inspired you to start your company?
Boomsky Smoothies was established with the aim of addressing the nutritional gap that exists in our fast-paced society. We are one of the pioneers in the natural drinks industry, as few or no such products were available in the market when we began. Our product was developed out of necessity; as busy executives, we struggled to find wholesome and nutritious food and drink options in our city. Our first customers were my colleagues from the office where I used to work, facing the same challenge. We started experimenting with different fruits and ingredients to create the perfect blend of flavours and nutrients. After months of trial and error, we finally developed the perfect recipe for our smoothies, which were a hit among our first customers. Since then, we have grown significantly and become Nigeria's go-to brand for natural drinks. We have expanded our product line to include eleven flavours of smoothies and juices made of 100% natural ingredients. Our focus has always been on providing customers with a healthy, convenient option for their busy lives.
Why should anyone use your service or product?
By using only the best ingredients, we can create products that taste great and are healthy and nutritious. So, whether you're looking for a snack to enjoy on the go or a healthy option for your family, you can trust that our products are made with the highest quality ingredients available.
“We have created a 360-degree value chain by generating revenue for farmers and partnering with fruit waste recyclers to create compost for organic farming.”
Tell us a little about your team:
We have a 28-member team that is driven, passionate and committed to achieving our company’s goals with an all-female executive team. We firmly believe that our diversity is our strength and that our team's varied backgrounds and perspectives have helped us to tackle challenges creatively and effectively. We have created a 360-degree value chain by generating revenue for farmers and partnering with fruit waste recyclers to create compost for organic farming.
Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And do you come from an entrepreneurial background?
I became an entrepreneur somewhat unexpectedly while working as a successful professional at one of Nigeria's top telecommunications companies. It all started when I was pregnant and craving smoothies. My coworkers were interested in the smoothies I was bringing to work, and they offered to pay me to make them some as well. Starting in my kitchen with N3000 Nigerian currency, I launched my business. Since then, we've grown and now own our facility, distributing our products to major stores across Nigeria's various geopolitical zones.
What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?
As part of our growth strategy for 2024, we have set our sights on expanding our production capacity with backward integration of our farm produce, starting with pineapples. We will invest the necessary infrastructure and resources to bring our farming operations closer to our production facilities. By doing so, we will exert greater control over our ingredients' supply, quality, and consistency, ensuring that they meet our exacting standards.
In addition to backward integration, we are also committed to implementing sustainable practices in our operations. Specifically, we are expanding our recycling efforts by integrating it into operations; we would recycle our fruit waste into organic compost for farmers to be used as a natural fertilizer for crop farming, which in turn helps to reduce our environmental impact and improve the health of the soil. By taking these steps, we are working towards becoming a more sustainable business and helping promote more sustainable practices in broader industries.
“As part of our growth strategy for 2024, we have set our sights on expanding our production capacity with backward integration of our farm produce, starting with pineapples.”
What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?
One of the aspects of my job that brings me the greatest joy is receiving positive feedback from our customers regarding the quality of our products. It's a source of pride to contribute to the satisfaction and happiness of our customers through our products.
What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?
I advise aspiring business owners to start with what they have and use it as a foundation to build upon. Continuously amplify your efforts to achieve your ambitions and exercise prudence as a business owner to ensure success.
Contact or follow Boomsky Smoothies:
Email: boomskysmoothies@yahoo.com
Website: http://www.boomskysmoothies.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Boomsky.Smoothies.Nigeria
Twitter: https://x.com/BoomskySmoothie?t=2k2XdD6DT2v11R9uyFs9pA&s=08
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/boomskysmoothies/
Why LoA loves it…
As many successful businesses know, finding that all important gap in the market for a new product or service is key, and for Olubunmi Otufowora that gap was for natural fruit juices and smoothies. Today, she is innovating and growing a market-leading fruit processing company that produces, distributes, and sells 100% natural smoothies and juices to an appreciative consumer base. This is a growing brand on the move and one to watch out for this year. — Melanie Hawken, founder & ceo, Lionesses of Africa